The Day I Quit Him (Autumn and Mars) novel Chapter 46

**Chasing Light, Finding Peace** – by Rohan Verma

**Chapter 46**

Mars’s face darkened, his brow furrowing deeply as he glared at Autumn. “If that meal wasn’t meant for me, then who did you intend it for?” His voice dripped with suspicion, the alcohol amplifying his insecurities.

In an instant, his friends, like a pack of wolves sensing prey, circled around him, their eagerness to back him up only escalating the tension.

“Exactly! Autumn, what’s so shameful about bringing your husband food? Just admit it, you came here for Mars!” one of them jeered, a smirk plastered on his face.

“Don’t worry, we won’t laugh at you!” another chimed in, trying to stoke the flames of Mars’s indignation.

“Seriously, Mars! Here! Catch this! It’s from your wife. You can’t let it go to waste!”

With his senses dulled by the effects of the drink, Mars reached out for the insulated container, but his coordination faltered spectacularly.

The container slipped from his fingers, crashing to the ground with a loud thud, its contents spilling out in a chaotic mess that mirrored the turmoil brewing within him.

Autumn’s heart plummeted at the sight of the ruined meal, despair washing over her like a cold wave. In a moment of frustration, she shoved Mars away, her voice rising above the chaos. “Mars, are you completely out of your mind?! I told you it wasn’t for you! Can’t you grasp that?”

“Why would you just throw away someone’s hard work like that?” he retorted, his anger palpable.

The thought of Owen Bennett, still waiting for his meal, ignited a surge of agitation within her.

Every interaction with Mars seemed to spiral into chaos, and she was done wasting her breath on him. With newfound determination, she turned away, pulling out her phone to text Mrs. Turner, desperately requesting another meal to be sent over immediately.

“What the hell does that mean, Autumn?!” Mars’s voice cut through the noise, filled with confusion and rage.

“Do you really think you can act all high and mighty just because Mars is drunk?” one of his friends shouted, as if defending a wounded animal.

“You’re his wife! What’s yours is his. If this wasn’t for Mars, who was it for? Your secret lover or something?”

Seeing how Autumn was treating Mars only fueled his friends’ anger.

But Mars was a volcano ready to erupt.

“Secret lover?” he spat, glaring at Autumn. “Autumn Lopez, are you seriously cheating on me?”

Drunk people rarely recognize their own inebriation, and in that moment, Mars seized Autumn’s arm, tugging her toward the exit with an unsteady grip that felt more like a vice than a hand.

“You’re coming back with me right now to explain this!”

His friends, sensing an opportunity to rally around their inebriated leader, pushed Autumn toward the door.

The last time they had pulled a stunt like this, they had locked her in the bathroom. Now, with Mars drunk and out of control, she felt a chill of fear creep up her spine; there was no telling what he might do next.

**Chapter 46**

I absolutely cannot go with them!

Panic surged through Autumn as she cast a desperate glance at the front desk, her heart racing.

The receptionist, noticing the escalating situation, rushed over with security guards in tow, positioning themselves like a protective barrier between Mars and Autumn.

“Can’t you see the lady doesn’t want to go with you?”

The receptionist’s heart ached for Autumn, especially as she noticed her pregnancy. It was disheartening to witness a woman being treated so poorly by a group of men, their arrogance palpable in the air.

The security guards stood firm, effectively blocking the doorway and preventing Mars’s friends from advancing any further.

“Get lost! This isn’t your business!”

Mars slurred his words, his drunkenness evident. “This… this is my goddamn wife! What’s it to you, outsider?”

The receptionist held her ground, her voice steady and unwavering. “Even if she’s your wife, you have to respect her wishes. She’s a person, not your property. Can’t you see she doesn’t want to go with you?”

Mars’s expression turned icy, the alcohol clouding his judgment as rage simmered beneath the surface.

His friends, sensing the tension, began to berate the receptionist, their voices rising in a chorus of indignation.

“What’s the problem with a little spat between a husband and wife? Besides, we don’t work for your company. You can’t dictate our actions.”

“Get out of the way! Stop blocking the path!”

Autumn hadn’t anticipated the situation escalating to this level. Her face paled with a mix of anger and frustration.

As the commotion drew the attention of bystanders, she felt a wave of panic wash over her. She had only intended to deliver a meal to Owen Bennett, never imagining that her simple act of kindness would lead to such chaos at the entrance of his company.

Guilt gnawed at her insides, twisting like a knife.

“Mars, stop it!”

She didn’t want to prolong this standoff any further.

It was clear that reasoning with a drunk was futile. She turned to his friends, her voice firm and resolute. “You guys need to take Mars and leave. This is the Bennett Group. If this escalates any further, it won’t end well for anyone involved.”

Her words struck a chord.

They understood the implications; their livelihoods depended on Mars. If he felt threatened by someone, they could not afford to cross that line.

But the emotions swirling within him were too intense, and he was a puppet to the alcohol’s influence. Rather than calming down, her plea only served to heighten his agitation.

“How dare you speak to me like that?”

“Autumn Lopez, you’ve become quite bold, haven’t you? Forgotten your place?”

“Don’t think you can walk all over me just because you landed that Mistveil Corporation project. Let me make this clear: if you don’t explain yourself today, this isn’t over between us!”

“Get your ass home with me right now!”

With a rough shove, Mars propelled her toward the door, completely disregarding her pregnancy.

“Hey!” The receptionist, unable to stand by any longer, moved to assist Autumn, but one of Mars’s friends shoved her back, barking, “My buddy is dealing with his own wife! What’s it to you?”

Witnessing the receptionist being pushed because of her, Autumn cried out, “Stop it!”

Mars’s friend sneered, his words dripping with disdain.

“What’s with the tough act, Autumn? Instead of worrying about others, you should be thinking about how you’re going to explain this to Mars!”

“Don’t be shocked if we find out that kid in your belly is a bastard. With Mars’s temper, you’re headed for a very ugly end!”

Autumn’s expression darkened, fury bubbling beneath the surface. Just as she opened her mouth to retaliate, someone shoved her forcefully from behind. Her ankle twisted painfully, and she stumbled toward a pillar by the entrance.

“Ah-!”

The receptionist gasped in alarm. Instantly, chaos erupted among the crowd. Mars lunged to grab Autumn, but his drunken state disoriented him. His left foot tangled with his right, and he crashed to the ground in a heap.

The fall took down several of his friends, limbs entangled in a chaotic mess, momentarily blocking anyone from reaching Autumn.

As she braced for impact, Autumn shut her eyes, despair washing over her as she faced the approaching pillar.

**Conclusion**

In the tumultuous aftermath of the chaos, Autumn stood amidst the wreckage of her emotions, the weight of her choices pressing down on her like a leaden shroud. The scene had spiraled beyond her control, exposing the fractures in her marriage and forcing her to confront the painful truth that had long been buried beneath the surface. As Mars’s drunken antics unraveled, so too did the facade of their life together, revealing the hypocrisy that had poisoned their relationship. With the crowd’s judgmental eyes upon her and the remnants of her dignity scattered like the spilled meal at her feet, Autumn felt a surge of clarity. This was not the life she envisioned for herself or her unborn child. She understood now that the path to peace would require her to confront the darkness within her marriage and claim her own strength, no matter how daunting the journey ahead might be.

As the dust settled and the chaos began to fade, Autumn’s heart, once heavy with despair, started to fill with a flicker of hope. The support of the receptionist and the security guards reminded her that she was not alone in this fight; there were people who recognized her worth and were willing to stand by her side. With every breath, she felt the shackles of Mars’s control loosening, allowing her to envision a future where she could reclaim her identity and embrace the light that had been obscured for far too long. As she turned away from the crumbling remnants of her past, Autumn took a step toward a new beginning, one where she could chase the light of self-acceptance and find the peace she so desperately sought. In that moment, she resolved to rise above the chaos, determined to forge a path that would lead her toward healing and a brighter tomorrow.

**What to Expect in the Next Chapter?**

In the upcoming chapter of “Chasing Light, Finding Peace,” the tumultuous confrontation between Autumn and Mars reaches a critical turning point. With Mars’s drunken state spiraling further out of control, readers can anticipate a fierce battle not just for Autumn’s dignity, but for her very safety. As the chaos unfolds, the tension escalates, and unexpected alliances may form in the most unlikely of places. Will the receptionist’s intervention prove to be a lifeline for Autumn, or will the situation only worsen as Mars’s friends continue to shield him from the truth? The stakes are high, and the air is thick with uncertainty.

Moreover, Autumn’s internal struggle intensifies as she grapples with the consequences of her choices and the weight of her past. The chapter promises to delve deeper into her psyche, revealing the complexities of her relationship with Mars and the hidden truths that threaten to surface. As she faces the crowd and the harsh judgments of onlookers, will Autumn find the strength to reclaim her voice, or will she be silenced by the very people who should support her? Prepare for a whirlwind of emotions as the narrative unfolds, leading to a climactic moment that may redefine Autumn’s journey toward peace and self-acceptance.